Bhubaneswar: Concerned over the frequent recycling of rice distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS), the state government has decided to introduce bar coding system to ensure that the earm">

Bhubaneswar: Concerned over the frequent recycling of rice distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS), the state government has decided to introduce bar coding system to ensure that the earmarked rice would not be available in the open market.

According to Raj Kumar Sharma, secretary, food supplies and consumer welfare, the new scheme would be introduced on a pilot basis in Balangir district from January next year.

Later, the scheme would be introduced in the remaining districts of the state.

Talking about the scheme, he said that at the time of procurement of rice from the miller, a bar code would be issued against each gunny bag of rice.

The bar code can be checked at any point staring from the store-agent to the miller from the godowns of the state government.

With this bar code, it can be easily identified where the pilferage takes place.

Sharma also said that the state government has decided to introduce an innovative system to check misuse of ration cards.

Henceforth, the ration cardholder will have to use his thumb as a mark on the card.

At the time of issuing the card, the state government will take the picture of the retina of the person concerned. The thumb sign and picture of retina will be placed in a computer and the ration card to ascertain the genuineness of the cardholder. This new system would be introduced first in Rayagada district, Sharma pointed out.